Sesame and Lilies

work by Ruskin

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

Sesame and Lilies is a work by John Ruskin, published in 1865. It is a collection of two lectures: \"Of King’s Treasuries\" and \"Of Queen’s Gardens.\"1

The lectures address different audiences and themes. \"Of King’s Treasuries\" focuses on the importance of reading and the value of books as a source of wisdom and inspiration, particularly for young men.1

\"Of Queen’s Gardens\" discusses the role of women in society, emphasizing their influence in the domestic sphere and their capacity for nurturing and moral guidance. While sometimes viewed as reflecting Victorian gender roles, Ruskin intended it as a critique of industrial capitalism and a vision for a more ethical society.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

John Ruskin
Cultural criticism of John Ruskin
Sesame and Lilies (1865) would become notorious in the late 20th century as a stock example of Victorian male chauvinism. In fact, Ruskin was using the conventional construction of the feminine, as pacific, altruistic, and uncompetitive, to articulate yet another symbolic assertion of his anticapitalist…
Read More
Sesame and Lilies (1865) would become notorious in the late 20th century as a stock example of Victorian male chauvinism. In fact, Ruskin was using the conventional construction of the feminine, as pacific, altruistic, and uncompetitive, to articulate yet another symbolic assertion of his anticapitalist…
Read More